Russia: Baltic Shipyard Kicks Off Construction of Icebreaker LK-60

Baltic Shipyard, in the presence of FSUE Atomflot’s Director Vyacheslav Ruksha, has conducted a steel cutting ceremony for icebreaker LK-60, marking the official start of construction of the Project 22220. According to the company’s press release this icebreaker will have the overall power of 60 MW with variable draught (from 8,5 m to 10,5 m) and will be able to replace 1 icebreaker of Arktika and 1 icebreaker of Taimyr type.

The icebreaker LK-60 of project 22220 will be the largest and most powerful icebreaker in the world. Ship’s main characteristics: length overall – 173.3 m, beam molded – 34 meters, draft at DWL – 10.5 m, minimum loaded draught – 8.55 m, displacement – 33.54 tons. The new generation double-reactor plant “RHYTHM 200″ designed by Rosatom’s “OKBM” has reactors of thermal capacity of 170 MW each – more than that of the plants used in modern nuclear icebreakers (140-150 MW).

By her technical characteristics, the universal nuclear icebreaker is a double-draught ship capable of operating in both the Northern Sea Route lines and rivers of the Arctic region. Owing to a greater width (34 m) than the existing icebreakers (30 m), the universal nuclear icebreaker will be able to steer tankers of up to 70.000 tons displacement in the Arctic. This will be the first icebreaker capable of passing 3-meter thick ice.

The total contract value for the construction of LK-60 is RUB 36.959 billion (approx $ 1.2 Bln ). The building process should be completed by December 2017.

[mappress]
Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, November 02, 2012; Image: rosatomflot